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• Egypt Air mulls expansion of Cairo-Delhi service to daily flights

  This development comes on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Egypt last year, further strengthening the ties between the two nations. Shortly after his visit, EgyptAir inaugurated its first direct flight from Cairo to New Delhi, marking a significant step in bolstering travel and cultural exchange.

  

• Matheran's popular toy train to don heritage steam engine look

  ​​The Central Railway (CR), which operates this narrow gauge train that passes through a difficult and steep mountainous terrain offering a picturesque view of a thickly wooded ridge and a valley, has decided to give a heritage look to it to revive the glorious past of this train, they said. But despite the new steam engine look, the train will continue to run on diesel, the officials added.

  

• India to be power house for future airline growth on travel eagerness, growing population

  The report focusing on the outlook for the global aviation sector also noted that the long-term global growth outlook -- 20 years -- has generally been tempered in the post pandemic era to a range of 3-4 per cent annually instead of 5-6 per cent, with Europe seeing the lowest growth figure.

  

• Historic England castle hopes to lure Indian tourists with new exhibition

  "Many will be familiar with the house and grounds through seeing it on screen, including in 'Brideshead Revisited' and 'Bridgerton', and we hope that these artworks by Tony Cragg will make visitors look at the landscape anew. With 10 sculptures in the grounds and a further 18 indoors, as well as works on paper, visitors can see how these artworks interplay with the landscape and the architecture of the House," they said.

  

• OYO withdraws DRHP, to refile IPO post refinancing

  Oravel Stays Ltd, OYO's parent company, had in November prepaid a significant chunk of its debt amounting to INR 1,620 crore through a buyback process. The buyback involved repurchasing 30 per cent of its outstanding Term Loan B of USD 660 million. The move brought down its outstanding loan amount to around USD 450 million.

  

• Munich airport faces delays after climate activists breach runway

  One of two runways is now open but there will be delays, the spokesperson said. The breach occurred during one of the busiest travel periods for the airport in southern Germany. A series of posts on X by the climate activists Last Generation show members on what appears to be a runway or tarmac with protest signs.

  

• No direct flights to tourism hubs from Chennai though demand is high

  South Korea approached the ministry of civil aviation with a request to start direct flights from Chennai to Seoul in 2015. Now, the Korean authorities have approached Bengaluru airport. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin requested the aviation ministry last year to resume Chennai-Tokyo flights. This is also pending. Malaysia has been pushing for flights between Chennai and Penang.

  

• Vietnam Airlines introduces A350 aircraft on flights between India & Vietnam

  The airline now connects New Delhi to the bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, starting from May 15. According to Google trends, Vietnam was the “Most Searched Destination for Indians in 2023.’’ Currently, Vietnam Airlines operates 14 flights weekly from Delhi and Mumbai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Furthermore, Vietnam Airlines offers seamless connections to China, Japan, Korea, Australia, and ASEAN countries from India.

  

• SriLankan Airlines opens new office in Trivandrum, onboards GSA for South Kerala

  ​The move demonstrates the airline's dedication to bolstering its position in Southern Kerala and providing an improved service to travellers from the Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Varkala, Kovalam, Marthandam, Nagercoil, and Tirunelveli regions. The SriLankan national carrier, well-known for its extensive operations in India, started operating flights to Trivandrum in April 1980.

  

• ICRA forecasts 15-17% revenue growth for Indian airport operators in FY2025

  ​​ICRA forecasts a healthy growth of around 8-11 per cent year-over-year in the overall air passenger traffic in FY2025, supported by a strong increase in both leisure and business travel, improved connectivity to newer destinations in the domestic segment, and a continued uptick in international travel. ​​In CY2023, global passenger traffic recovered to only 96 per cent of the pre-Covid level.

  

• Hong Kong Q1 GDP expands 2.7%, tourism, events to support growth

  "Looking ahead, the Hong Kong economy should record further growth in the rest of the year," Adolph Leung, a government economist, said in a statement, adding private consumption and government support initiatives should bolster growth. However, Leung also said the changing pattern of residents' consumption may pose challenges while a longer period of "tight financial conditions" may affect local economic confidence and activity.

  

• Ahmedabad Airport boosts capacity with new stands and upgrades

  The new stands provide opportunities for airlines to add more connections to Ahmedabad. Additionally, Terminal 2 is undergoing rapid expansion with four new aerobridges, bringing the total to eight. The airport has also implemented the Multiple Aircraft Ramp System (MARS) on four existing aerobridges, optimizing stand usage. With these advancements, Terminal 2 can now handle, 18 Boeing 737/Airbus A320 aircraft, commonly used by domestic and some international carriers, and 5 five wide-body aircraft like Boeing 777/787 or Airbus A359, and Cargo colossal AN 124, B744, Beluga aircraft mainly operated by international airlines.

  

• MEA issues advisory for Indians travelling to Laos, Cambodia for jobs

  MEA issued an advisory for Indian nationals about scams in Laos and Cambodia by fake agents offering lucrative employment opportunities. Scams involve cyber crimes, illegal activities, human trafficking, exploitation, fraud, deception, and risks. Job seekers were by the MEA to use authorized agents only and get in touch with the Indian embassy for assistance or clarification.

  

• Ayodhya and Sydney lead as top summer getaways for Indian tourists

  Indian families are prioritising budget-friendly travel this summer. Value for money is the top motivator with Ayodhya leading domestic searches and Sydney topping international. Spiritual travel is on the rise while families also seek beach and cultural destinations. Europe sees a surge in interest with UK, Germany and Spain popular. Travellers prioritise family bonding, exploration and comfort, with air conditioning a must-have amenity.

  

• China to challenge Boeing, Airbus dominance with newly planned C939 widebody jet

  Comac has unveiled preliminary designs for the C939, marking the start of what will be a long and complex development process aimed at creating a competitive widebody aircraft. The new aircraft design is poised to be larger and more technologically advanced, targeting global markets with higher passenger capacities and extended ranges compared to the C919, a South China Morning Post report said.

  

• Uttarakhand implements mobile phone ban near Kedarnath Temple during Chardham Yatra

  To ensure the ban's effective implementation, The Chief Secretary Raturi has instructed all District Magistrates and police officers to enforce the prohibition of mobile phone usage within the specified radius of the temple. The measure is intended to preserve the sanctity of the temple and enhance the devotees' spiritual experience.